UC’S GOLFER RANZ LOUIE BALAY-ODAO 2ND RUNNER-UP IN ICTSI INTERCOLLEGIATE TOUR LAUNCH

June 17, 2025 Sports

UC GOLFER TRIUMPHS- ITCSI INTERCOLLEGIATE TOUR LAUNCH : Ranz Louie Balay-odao (middle), 2nd runner-up in the said tourney held on June 16 at Sherwood Hills Golf Club, posts for posterity with teammates Lance Kiat-ong (left) and Czendel Jay Guanso (right). Coach Danny Zarate, Camp John Hay pro , a world cupper and former member of the national team. Balay-odao, Guanso and Kiat-ong plays at Camp John Hay GC as their home course.

Contributed photo

BAGUIO CITY

Ranz Louie Balay-odao , student-athlete of University of Cordilleras (UC) on Monday (June 16) managed the sweltering heat and tough course at the challenging Sherwood Hills Golf Club to capture second runner-up in individual honors of the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour Launch in Trece Martirez City ,Cavite. Balay-odao, 22 , who traces his roots in Bakun-Buguias (Benguet), stunned the highly competitive field including members of the national team , scored four-over 76, highlighted by four birdies including his longest eight-foot birdie putt. ‘My short game keyed my performance. My irons are okay. However, it was hit and miss on my driver … I did some miscalculations,’ said team captain Balay-odao, a third year Business Management student of UC ,and with Camp John Hay Golf Club as their home course.

The determined, Balay-odao, started at the back nine with 1- over , marked by two birdies (11th and 16th). At the homestretch , Balay-odao , one stroke behind the leader, squandered his chance in the last hole 9th when his tee shot landed in the hazard for a double bogey en route to 3-over on the front. Earlier, he fired two birdies on the 1st and 7th. ‘ First of all, I thanked God for the trophy…experience and for safety of our team ,’ said Balay-odao, who volunteered to be the driver ‘to lessen expenses.’ They motored down past 1AM on a chilly Monday, and arrived at the tournament site in time for their 9:10AM tee times on a hot weather condition.

‘I would like also to thanked my parents who have been very supportive ever since…to UC especially to Ray Dean Salvosa, and to UC Sports Development Office (SDO),’Balay-odao added. ‘And to coach Danny Zarate. He was a big help. His tips on how to play was very useful since he had played the course (Sherwood Hills GC) a number of times. He taught us to be composed.’ ‘Ranz played well, except his last hole 9th where he made a ‘bad drive’..he was to aggressive,’ said coach Zarate, who accompanied the local players. ‘Participating in high level tournaments will further develop their golf skills and mental toughness…golf is a game of patience,’ stressed the veteran ace golfer Zarate now Camp John Hay pro.

Balay-odao teammates- Czendel Jay Guanso (UC) and Lance Kiat-ong struggled with, 90 and 91 ,respectively. It was learned that the local boys shouldered their expenses in the said tournament. Actually, ICTSI Intercollegiate Golf Tour, launched by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., (PGTI) and Philippine Golf Foundation (PGF), aimed at establishing the foundation in making golf an official sport for student-athletes, with the hope of providing them scholarship program.

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